Improvement in cloth-scouring machines



B. FRANKE. Cloth Scouring Machine.

N0. I67,396. Parentedse nman.

N. PETERS. PHOT0-L|TNOGRAPMER, WASHlNGTN. D. '6v

CHARLES FBANKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTH-SCOURING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,396, dated September 7, 1875; application filed June 2, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FRANKE, of the State, city, and county of New York, have invented, made, and applied to use a new and useful Machine for Scouring and Cleaning Cloths or Wearing-Apparel; and the following is a specification thereof.

My invention consists in a machine for scouring purposes, wherein a driving-shaft, receiving motion from some motor, is mounted in bearings on asuitable frame, carrying p0 werdriven brushes actuated from the said drivingshaft.

The material to be scoured or cleaned is presented to the action of the brushes or other cleaners on a yielding platform or platforms, to which it is held by pressure-holders, and such material may be withdrawn from time to time, as required, from the action of the brushes by depressing the platform.

When two platforms are used one is made removable, and universal anti-friction bearings are interposed between them.

In the annexed drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical end view.

A is the main frame sustaining the various parts of the machine. B represents the brushes, arranged to slide in suitable ways 0 in the frame, and receive a quick motion from a driving-shaft, S, through a suitable connection-such, for instance, as a crank and pitman, E Fsuch shaft having a pulley to re ceive a band, and, if desired a flywheel, as indicated in dotted lines. Under the brushes there is a platform, G, having ball or like universal bearings N, on which is laid another platform, H, on which the wearingapparel, cloth, or other material to be scoured or clean ed is placed. While under the operation of the brushes or cleaners the material is held still 'by a number of pressure-holders, i, which are preferably made yielding by the application of springs J. The holders have their lower ends rounded off or terminating in knobs; but the surface in contact with the cloth or clothes may be slightly serrated, the better to hold the goods. At the same time the form or contour prevents liability of tearing them. The

springs L under the platform have the effect of holding the cloth or clothes to the action of the brushes with a constant and elastic pressure. The springs should be such as will allow either corner or side of the platforms to yield independently of the other. The platform may be depressed against the force of the springs L at the will of the attendant, to insert, remove, or to change the article thereon to present certain portions to the action of the brushes, by means of a treadle, K, connected to the platform by rod N, and when pressed down may also be moved aside and caught by a notch, 0, Fig. 2, in its guide. While so held down-4'. e., away from the operation of the brushes-the platform H with the material thereon may be removed from the machine, and another like platform, with other cloth or clothes thereon, inserted while the machine is in full operation. In the insertion or moving of the platform H the operation is greatly facilitated by the universal bearings on which it rests, as they allow the said platform to be easily moved in any horizontal direction.

A machine substantially such as above described is susceptible of many modifications While embodying my invention, among which are the following: Instead of lowering the platform the brushes could be lifted, and instead of two platforms one only couldbe used.

1 claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, in a cloth or clothes scouring machine having reciprocating brushes, of a sup 'iorting-frame, a platform to sustain the cloth or clothes, and pressureholders constructed and operating substantially as described, to hold the cloth or clothes to the platform against the lateral action of the brushes.

2. The combination, in a cloth or clothes scouring machine, the reciprocating brushes, the pressure-holders i, constructed and operating substantially as described, and a laterally-moving or removable platform.

3. The combination, in a cloth or clothes scouring machine, of the pressure-holders 'i,

constructed and operating substantially as 5. The combination, in 2 cloth or clothes described, and a platform mounted on springs, scourin machine, oftwo platforms on springs,

for the purposes specified. a treadle, K, and a catch, 0.

4. The combination, in a cloth or clothes CHARLES FRANKIE. scouring machine, of two plntforms,having Witnesses: anti-frictionbearingsinterposedbetween them, EARLE H. SMITH, for the purpose set forth. WILLIAM MUNCH. 

